Mikel Arteta urges Premier League to increase size of matchday squads | OneFootball

Mikel Arteta has urged the Premier League to increase the size of matchday squads, warning that the current restrictions place an unnecessary strain on players’ wellbeing and undermine squad management.

At present, clubs are permitted to name 20 players on a matchday, with nine substitutes and five allowed to be used during the game. Arteta wants that number expanded to 23, in line with Champions League regulations, arguing it would better reflect the physical and mental demands of the modern game.

Speaking to the media ahead of Arsenal’s trip to Leeds United, the Gunners manager admitted the rules regularly force him into uncomfortable decisions, including leaving summer signing Christian Norgaard out of squads altogether. “Nobody wants to be told they can’t even travel with the team,” Arteta said. “The worst thing is to leave somebody.”

Arteta framed the issue as one of player welfare as much as tactics. He described the psychological impact of repeatedly excluding individuals who train fully but are denied the chance to be part of matchday preparations, insisting it can damage confidence and perceived value within the squad.

With Arsenal competing across four competitions and having already played 36 matches this season, Arteta believes the intensity of the calendar makes larger squads a necessity rather than a luxury. “The demands on games are bigger,” he said. “It doesn’t make sense to restrict that.”

The Spaniard argued that expanded squads would allow managers to manage minutes more effectively, protect players emotionally, and make more informed tactical decisions.

Arsenal will next face Leeds United away from home in the Premier League.

GFN | Finn Entwistle